In addition, the Ice Rod item is found in the Ice Cave on the northeastern side of the lake, as well as the Golden Bee, a Bottled insect that can be unleashed to attack foes.

Ocarina of Time

In Ocarina of Time, Lake Hylia is located in the southern region of Hyrule and is home to the sunken Water Temple, which is used by the Zoras to worship the water spirits.[4] The lake is made up of various islands, with the largest one bearing a lone tree as well as the pedestal that serves as the warp point for the "Serenade of Water." It is connected to Hyrule Field and has an underwater tunnel that serves as a shortcut to Zora's Domain, although it is blocked by ice once Link turns into an adult. All of the lake's water comes from Zora's Fountain, passing through Zora's River, then Gerudo Valley, and eventually reaching Lake Hylia.[5] As such, it is possible to reach the lake by floating down the river from Gerudo Valley. Also on the shore of Lake Hylia are two Scarecrows named Pierre and Bonooru, the latter of which helps Link obtain the Scarecrow's Song. Other notable locations of Lake Hylia include the Lakeside Laboratory, where various experiments are conducted to discover the lake's mysteries, and the Fishing Pond, where Link can fish for an unlimited time for just 20 Rupees.[6][7]

Link first visits the lake as a child while looking for Princess Ruto, where he finds Ruto's Letter encased in a bottle at the bottom of the lake. Later, after the young hero turns into an adult by pulling the Master Sword from its pedestal, Link returns to find the lake almost drained of its rich waters. He discovers that the lake has been drained as a result of Morpha's curse. With the help of Princess Ruto, Link sinks to the bottom of Lake Hylia using Iron Boots to reach the Water Temple and defeat Morpha.[8] Once Ruto awakens as the Sage of Water, the lake is filled with water again, returning it to its normal state.[9] Furthermore, Link can stand on a stone tablet above the Water Temple's entrance and shoot an arrow at the sun when it's rising to have the Fire Arrows appear on the small, lone island.[10]

Four Swords Adventures

The uppermost waterfall of Lake Hylia in Four Swords Adventures

In Four Swords Adventures, Lake Hylia is the first stage of the Whereabouts of the Wind, which is the first level of the game. Unlike in the other games where Lake Hylia is a singular lake, Lake Hylia appears here as a series of small lakes connected by rivers. It is located in the eastern portion of Hyrule. The lake area primarily serves to introduce controls and maneuvers. Link learns the many ways to line up to pass obstacles and fight enemies, and it is here that the young hero meets Kaepora Gaebora and Tingle for the first time in the game.

The terrain consists of mainly grassy areas, caves, rivers, and mountainside waterfalls. Among the inhabitants of the area, Tingle can be found beneath a rock in Link's path through the area. At the end of the level, the four Links must fight the stage's boss Chief Soldier. Upon its defeat, the four barriers must be broken with the Four Sword in order to yield passage to the Cave of No Return.

Lake Hylia's most important feature is the Temple of Droplets, a frozen Minish-sized temple which serves as the fourth dungeon of the game. After Link completes the Fortress of Winds and receives the Ocarina of Wind, the young hero must warp to the Wind Crest located in Lake Hylia and speak to the nearby Forest Minish, who compliments the young hero for finding him. Upon hearing that Link is seeking to enter the Temple of Droplets, the Minish tells the young hero that only one Minish, Librari was able to find a way into it and directs him to the Royal Hyrule Library in Hyrule Town where Librari lives in semi-retirement.[11][12] After speaking to the Minish at Lake Hylia, the Royal Hyrule Library opens to the public, allowing Link to enter and speak with Librari. The Minish located at Lake Hylia is a possible target for Kinstone Fusion. If Link successfully fuses Kinstones with him, the vines covering a tree in Western Wood will clear, allowing Link to enter the tree and obtain the Piece of Heart inside.[13]

When Link first visits Lake Hylia, it is covered in Twilight and has been mostly drained due to Zora's Domain being frozen, which stopped the water from flowing into the lake.[17][18] Once Link unfreezes Zora's Domain, the water flow returns and fills up the lake, allowing the young hero to visit Lanayru at her spring and obtain the Vessel of Light to collect the Tears of Light of the Lanayru Province. Collecting 15 Tears of Light will make the last Shadow Insect appear in the middle of the lake, which is actually an oversized monster known as Twilit Bloat. The defeat of the Twilit Bloat allows Link to collect the last Tear of Light, thus returning light to the province.

Later on in the game, Link must visit the lake once again to meet with Auru at the tower situated on the west side of the area. Auru hands Link a memo to give to Fyer so that the young hero will be able to reach Gerudo Desert and thus reach the Mirror Chamber.[19]

A Link Between Worlds

Lake Hylia in A Link Between Worlds

Lake Hylia appears in A Link Between Worlds, located southeast of Hyrule Castle. It features the House of Gales, the second dungeon in the game, on an island at its center, located where the Pond of Happiness was in A Link to the Past. Link cannot reach the dungeon until he has obtained the Flippers from Queen Oren of the Zoras, which she gives to him as thanks for returning her stolen Smooth Gem, and cannot enter it without renting the Tornado Rod from Ravio.

Lake Hylia's counterpart in Lorule is dubbed Lorule Lake, with a fiery maze at its center known as Turtle Rock serving as analogous to the House of Gales in Hyrule. Gaining access to the dungeon requires Link to come to the aid of three turtles that are trapped in various predicaments across the lake; doing so prompts their mother to thank him by allowing him a ride atop her back, which Link can use to reach the dungeon's entrance.

Lake Hylia also features a hidden cave that houses Mother Maiamai, a character who will upgrade any one item that Link has purchased from Ravio for every ten Lost Maiamais that the hero finds and returns to her.

Non-Canon Appearances

Hyrule Warriors

Lake Hylia appears as a stage in Hyrule Warriors containing the "The Water Temple" Scenario in Legend Mode. It appears as part of Sheik and Impa's quest, separated into two halves: the northern half being Lake Hylia itself, and the southern half the Water Temple. Pieces of Zora's Domain in its frozen state appears in the Lake Hylia portion of the stage.

Trivia

In the European version of Ocarina of Time, the Map Subscreen refers to Lake Hylia as Hylia Lakeside. In the European version of Ocarina of Time 3D, this was fixed.

It is possible that the lake made its first appearance in the original The Legend of Zelda as the large body of water found near the center of the overworld map. However, lake is never referred to during the game.

Gallery

Lake Hylia in Ocarina of Time

Lake Hylia in Ocarina of Time

Lake Hylia in Ocarina of Time

Lake Hylia dried up in Ocarina of Time

Lake Hylia in Ocarina of Time 3D

Lake Hylia in Ocarina of Time 3D

Lake Hylia in Four Swords Adventures

Lake Hylia map from Four Swords Adventures

Lake Hylia map from The Minish Cap

Lake Hylia covered in Twilight in Twilight Princess

Lake Hylia in Hyrule Warriors

References

↑"I am a member of the Zora tribe, the proud people who care for Lake Hylia." — Zora (Twilight Princess)

↑"Beyond this point lies Lake Hylia. It is full of deep, pure water. The Zoras, who live all the way upstream, guard the sunken temple at the lake's bottom, as well as Zora's Fountain." — Kaepora Gaebora (Ocarina of Time)

↑"The other Zoras are all on guard patrol at the bottom of the lake." — Zora (Twilight Princess)

↑"At the lake bottom there is a Water Temple used to worship the water spirits. The Zoras are guardians of the temple." — Kaepora Gaebora (Ocarina of Time)

↑"All of the water in Hyrule flows from Zora's Fountain. That water flows through Zora's River, which eventually reaches Lake Hylia to the south." — Zora (Ocarina of Time)

↑"Lakeside Laboratory / Daily trying to get to the bottom of the mysteries of Lake Hylia! --Lake Scientist" — Sign (Ocarina of Time)

↑"This ice is created by an evil curse... The monster in the Water Temple is the source of the curse. Unless you shut off the source, this ice will never melt...." — Sheik (Ocarina of Time)

↑"Together, you and Princess Ruto destroyed the evil monster! Once again, the lake is filled with pure water. All is as it was here." — Sheik (Ocarina of Time)

↑"When water fills the lake, shoot for the morning light." — Tablet inscription (Ocarina of Time)

↑"Oh, ho! A visitor! How rare! But you have found me, the wisest of the wisest of the wise! You what? You want to enter the temple you can see in the lake? They call that place the Temple of Droplets. I have heard rumors that one Minish actually did find a way in, long ago... That Minish is Elder Librari, and he is in semi-retirement in the town library. The library should be opening soon. Perhaps you can go find him." — Forest Minish (The Minish Cap)

↑"Yes, the elder Librari once found an entrance to the Temple of Droplets. And now, he lives in the town library! And this is all the wisdom of the wisest of the wise I have to offer to you!" — Forest Minish (The Minish Cap)

↑"They fit perfectly! I wonder, does that mean we're in for good luck?" — Forest Minish (The Minish Cap)

↑"The dark power that you seek... It waits in a temple set in the bed of Lake Hylia." — Lanayru (Twilight Princess)

↑"The other Zoras are all on guard patrol at the bottom of the lake. The bottom of this lake is a sacred place for us Zoras." — Zora (Twilight Princess)

↑"We've had a ton of complaints from citizens who can't send prayers to the spring spirit of Lake Hylia." — Soldier (Twilight Princess)

↑"Now that we've seen it, it's not like we can ignore what's happening in Zora's Domain. Unless we can melt the ice, the water will never be restored to Lake Hylia." — Midna (Twilight Princess)

↑"At this rate, the lake will most definitely vanish if we don't somehow get water from Zora's Domain upstream..." — Zora (Twilight Princess)

↑"Don't tell me you plan to enter the desert and confirm my suspicions with your own eyes?! Now, I've been investigating other ways to enter the desert. You see Lake Hylia below us? A man named Fyer runs an amusement ride of sorts there. Give him this. If you leave the rest up to Fyer, all should go well." — Auru (Twilight Princess)